For there a good yeoman doth abide,
Will be sure to quarrel with thee,
And if thou have need of us, master,
In faith we will not flee.'

4.
'And thou be fear'd, thou William Scarlett,
At home I rede thee be.'
'And you be wroth, my dear master,
You shall never hear more of me.'
... ... ...

5.
'For there shall no man with me go,
Nor man with me ride,
And Little John shall be my man,
And bear my benbow by my side.'

6.
'You'st bear your bow, master, yourself,
And shoot for a penny with me.'
'To that I do assent,' Robin Hood said,
'And so, John, let it be.'

7.
They two bold children shotten together,
All day theirself in rank,
Until they came to black water,
And over it laid a plank.

8.
Upon it there kneeled an old woman,
Was banning Robin Hood,
'Why dost thou ban Robin Hood?' said Robin,
... ... ...

9.
... ... ...
To give to Robin Hood;
We weepen for his dear body,
That this day must be let blood.'

10.
'The dame prior is my aunt's daughter,
And nigh unto my kin;
I know she would me no harm this day,
For all the world to win.'

11.
Forth then shotten these children two,
And they did never lin,
Until they came to merry Churchlees,
To merry Churchlees within.

12.
And when they came to merry Churchlees,
They knocked upon a pin;
Up then rose dame prioress,
And let good Robin in.

13.
Then Robin gave to dame prioress
Twenty pound in gold,
And bade her spend while that would last,
And she should have more when she wold.

14.
And down then came dame prioress,
Down she came in that ilk,
With a pair of blood-irons in her hands,
Were wrapped all in silk.

15.
'Set a chafing-dish to the fire,' said dame prioress,
'And strip thou up thy sleeve!'
I hold him but an unwise man
That will no warning 'lieve.

16.
She laid the blood-irons to Robin Hood's vein,
Alack, the more pity!
And pierced the vein, and let out the blood,
That full red was to see.

17.
And first it bled the thick, thick blood,
And afterwards the thin,
And well then wist good Robin Hood
Treason there was within.

18.
'What cheer, my master?' said Little John;
'In faith, Little John, little good;
... ... ...
... ... ...

*** *** ***

19.
'I have upon a